Best way to get started as an electrologist

Hi,

I am already working as a laser hair removal technician. I would like to also start doing electrolysis.

I have an esthetics license and laser tech certification. As far as I can tell, I do not need another certification to perform electrolysis in Washington state.

The closest school I could find was A.I.E. in Santa Anna California. The program seems excellent, but tuition and hotel stays are expensive.

Are there any closer schools? Are there places that will give me on the job training?

I bought an electrolysis machine and Michael Bono’s book. People have offered to let me practice on them. Is it professionally acceptable to have hands on experience instead of a certification?

All that matters to me is if you can remove the hairs, and have actually learned the procedure, and remain open to new developments, and alternate means of practice.

Of course, the elitists will tell you that without certifications and licenses you can’t be taken seriously as a professional. To those who believe that, I remind them of how clueless they felt at the end of their last class at electrolysis school.

I wish I could help train you with some hands on myself.

Chair-side training can provide you with some basics, and there are many of us who did learn this way. Unfortunately, there are electrologists out there who never tried to learn anything more than those basics taught by their initial teacher. Fortunately, there are electrologists out there who have tried to absorb every bit of information they could to expand their knowledge and techniques. The thing is, a school SHOULD allow you to learn many techniques and try out various epilators, which would most likely not happen with chair-side training.

Your background is a perfect step towards becoming an electrologist. Tell me this: What do you think about someone who received their esthetics and/or laser training via chair side?

There are some schools which provide on-line hours prior to the hands-on training. You might look into that, but be sure you check out the history of any of these schools.